Business Briefs: State unemployment claims spike in April

Posted: Sunday, May 11, 2008

The Georgia Department of Labor reported that 51,604 laid-off workers filed first-time claims for unemployment insurance benefits in April, up 21.3 percent from March. The increase in claims came across-the-board in manufacturing, construction, trade and services.

Initial claims, considered to be a good barometer of economic activity because they measure newly unemployed workers, rose by 52.7 percent over the year, up from 33,784 in April 2007.

Also, the total number of individuals receiving unemployment insurance benefits is up 51 percent over the year, from 53,680 in April 2007 to 80,830 in April 2008.

Initial unemployment claims for the Athens metro area, which includes Clarke, Madison, Oconee and Oglethorpe counties, were down 64, or 10.1 percent, from 634 to 570 in April compared to March.

Manning Brothers sales earn honors

Manning Brothers Food Equipment Co., recently was honored with membership in the "President's Club" of the Supply & Equipment Foodservice Alliance Inc. at the 22nd Annual Partnership Conference held in Indiana.

The President's Club recognizes top SEFA dealers in terms of sales growth and volume for the past year. Manning Brothers sales volume grew by 11 percent. Chuck Day and Ronny Whitmire with Manning Brothers accepted the award at the conference.

Urology clinic gets second accreditation

The American College of Radiology has accredited Athena Urology in computed tomography. Athena Urology is the practice of Drs. Thomas Oliver and John Blankenship and is the only facility in Athens to be accredited by the ACR for the computer tomography, also called CT scan or CAT scan.

CT scanning is an X-ray procedure that uses a computer to produce a detailed picture of a cross section of the body.

The ACR accreditation is the second the facility has received recently. The Athena Urology Surgery Center received the highest accreditation offered by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care in February.

Federation hosts legislative recap

The National Federation of Independent Business will sponsor a 2008 Small Business Legislative Recap from 6-7:30 p.m. May 19 at Hilltop Grille, 2310 Broad St. in Athens.

David Raynor, NFIB/ Georgia state director, will discuss state legislative issues, including health care reform and workers' compensation. Gary Palmquist, NFIB U.S. House lobbyist, will discuss immigration reform. The cost for attending is $10, and the price includes a meal.

For more information, contact Katie Jones at Katie.Jones@NFIB.org or (404) 876-8516.

Shane's marking BBQ month with free food

Shane's Rib Shack, located on North Milledge Avenue, will give away a free rack of baby-back ribs, a large Coca-Cola Zero and a numbered "Shaniac" jersey to the first 100 customers who come in to the store on Saturday in celebration of May, the official month of barbecue.

Nonresidential building up, residential down

McGraw-Hill Construction recently reported on March contracts for future construction in the metropolitan statistical area of Athens-Clarke County, consisting of Clarke, Madison, Oconee and Oglethorpe counties.

According to the Research and Analytics unit of McGraw-Hill Construction, the latest month's construction activity followed this pattern: Nonresidential building for the month of March ended at $33,646,000, up from $1,426,000 in March 2007. Residential building is at $16,529,000, down 10 percent from $18,279,000 in 2007. Overall, in March, total building is at $50,175,000, up from $19,705,000 in 2007.

For the year-to-date on a cumulative basis, nonresidential building is at $41,231,000, down 3 percent from $42,409,000 last year, and residential building is at $35,318,000, down 68 percent from $108,952,000 last year. Total building is at $76,549,000, down 49 percent from $151,361,000 at this time last year.

Dovetail starts work on Habitat project

Athens-based Dovetail Companies held a groundbreaking ceremony April 25 for a new Habitat for Humanity home, which will be built at 110 Red Fern Circle in the Stonehenge Subdivision in Bogart. Dovetail has donated $65,000 for the construction of the home. Trinity Accounting Group and Connected Technologies are joining the Dovetail Companies in the Habitat effort. The employees of both companies, along with friends and family members, will be donating their time and talent to the construction of this home over 16 consecutive Saturdays.

Arbor selected by business association

Arbor Salon & Spa has been selected for the 2008 Best of Athens Award in the Beauty Salons and Services category by the U.S. Local Business Association.

The USLBA "Best of Local Business" Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, USLBA members are asked to identify companies they think have achieved exceptional marketing success and overall customer satisfaction in their local market and business category.

The USLBA is a Washington-based organization founded and funded by local businesses that operate in every town across America. The USLBA was established to offer market research, marketing consultation, public relations and advertising to local businesses.

Walton EMC golf event raises $9,000

Walton EMC raised $9,000 from their Charity Golf Classic and donated the proceeds to the John P. and Joyce C. Stevens Boys & Girls Club in Monroe.

The Monroe club currently serves 274 young people. More than 100 golfers participated in the event April 14 at Lane Creek Golf Course to drive, chip and putt so the Boys & Girls Club can continue its mission.

Power Partners celebrates 50th year

Power Partners, formerly ABB, recently marked the 50th anniversary of the manufacturing facility in Athens. Westinghouse built the Athens plant in 1958 to serve the Southeastern region of the United States.

In 1990, Westinghouse sold the Athens facility to ABB and the company has continued making pole mounted power distribution transformers. ABB sold the business in 2002 to Sherrie Ford, founder of Change Partners Inc., a consulting firm, and her partner Steve Hollis. In 2003, the company's name was changed to Power Partners when the acquisition was completed.

In 2008, the company launched a new line of commercial and residential solar water heater systems.

Small-business classes set for next week

The Small Business Development Center has slated two small-business courses this week.

"Starting Your Own Business" will take place from 6-9 p.m. Tuesday. Topics for discussion include the traits of successful entrepreneurs, market research, legal structures for your business, estimating start-up costs and cash flow projection, financing alternatives, failure factors and business planning.

"Writing a Business Plan" is set from 6-9 p.m. Thursday. This course will explain the sections of the business plan, what information is required for each section and the general format for a business plan. Course participants will receive a detailed planning outline and other information to help develop a business plan.

Both courses will be held at the SBDC, 1180 E. Broad St. Each seminar costs $49. For more information, visit the Web site at www.georgiasbdc.org or call (706) 542-7436.

Salon raises $1,030 for memorial project

DRee & Co. recently held a Cuts for a Cause at Holland Park in conjunction with the Athens Little League and raised $1,030 for the Mays Field project, which will be dedicated to the memory of Dr. Allen Mays and his son, Madison, who were killed in a car wreck last year. Little League concessions helped bring the total of donations to more than $2,000 for the project.

Anyone wishing to donate to the Mays Field Fund can send contributions to the Athens Little League, P.O. Box 6122, Athens, GA 30604 and mark the donation to Mays Field.